The Privacy Paradox: location data sharing in the age of always on

Drivers of change in 2019

This article is part of a series of articles on drivers of change in 2019. Read more.

Historically, technologies to observe as well as to avoid observation have grown in parallel. We want to understand the world around us, measure, extrapolate and forecast. But we also want to be left alone, celebrate individualism and unpredictability. In the age of connectivity, ubiquitous cameras and sensors, people compare our world to Orwell’s 1984. Some may feel nostalgic for analogue times. Nevertheless, the very same people enjoy the benefits of ride-hailing, the ‘Likes’ under their wedding photos or a real bargain from their preferred online retailer.

While privacy as such is clearly defined as a human right, it appears we have traded privacy for convenience when it comes to data sharing. Which begs the question, are privacy and convenience mutually exclusive?